The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Memorable

  • A memorable gift in Imo

    A memorable gift in Imo

    Workers’ Day is largely boring. It is an annual ritual of marches, rallies and speeches, and then workers return to their beats to bemoan their fate afresh. In Imo State, this year’s edition was a break from the norm. There was something to cheer about. The state governor Rochas Okorocha lifted a six-year embargo on promotion in the state.
    The workers, who defied the heavy downpour to attend the ceremony at the Heroes Square, broke into wild jubilation on hearing the announcement. Majority of them were overdue for promotion but were restricted by the embargo that was placed on promotion since 2011.
    Okorocha who lauded the mutual relationship between the leadership of workers’ union and his administration, described the gesture as an appreciation of the contribution of the workers and a way of stimulating the state workforce.
    Speaking to the ecstatic crowd, Governor Okorocha assured that his administration will lift the ban on promotion as soon as the sanitisation exercise going on in the system was completed, adding that the government would like to know the status of those to benefit from the promotion exercise. He urged the workers to always show appreciation for what his administration has done for them since 2011 when he came on board.
    He reminded the workers that they are the greatest beneficiaries of the free education programme in the state because there is no more pressure on them or on their salaries for the payment of school fees of their children and wards especially when the free education policy is from primary to tertiary institutions.
    He also told the workers that he was the first to pay them N20,000 minimum wage against the approved N18,000 minimum wage and also paid them wardrobe allowance, which has seen them today appearing in a special dress code, and is also building ICT centres at the state secretariat and local government headquarters to enable them become computer literate.
    The governor informed the workers that the government has concluded arrangement to recruit more than 3000 fresh graduates who are Computer literate into the Civil Service to make the System vibrant, adding that more than ninety percent of the workers are not Computer literate.
    He assured that he would continue to dialogue with the leaders of the Labour Union in the State to ensure that the harmonious relationship his government enjoys with workers continues, adding that he would remain committed to the welfare of the workers in the State.
    Meanwhile the Deputy Governor of the State, Eze Madumere in his felicitation message, hailed the workers for their commitment and resilience towards tackling the daunting challenges facing the country.
    Madumere emphasized the importance of the roles of the workers in nation building, describing them as the real heroes.
    He particularly commended Imo Workers for their cooperation and strategic partnership with the present rescue Mission Government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha to building an Imo of State of collective dream.
    The Deputy Governor commended the leadership of Labour for their understanding and for embracing best practices while negotiating for welfare of its members by putting the survival of the State and the country first. He  also commended the State Governor over “his untiring effort to ensure that issues concerning the welfare of the workers are always on the priority list and his readiness to always listen to their heat beats whenever they come knocking.
    He reminded the workers of importance of making the best out of the present Back to Farm Policy of the Government, which he said will not only “launch them into financial stability but will make them great contributors in the effort to re-launch Nigeria to its supposed position in the comity of nations.”
    In his speech at the event, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Austin Chilakpa, commended the governor for lifting the embargo, stating that it will reawaken the spirit of hard work, which he noted can only be guaranteed through a vibrant reward system.
    He called for 100 per cent review of the agreement the Labour leaders had with the state government some time ago over the payment of salaries, stating that the Labour leaders would continue to demand that, until it is done.”

     

  • Memorable love notes

    THE chicken moved around looking for something to peck at. It was young, beautiful and restless. The first move was to hang around Mr. A, but somehow there was no chemistry here. Instead, Mr. A looked for a big stick indicating that pretty chickens (chics) are not welcomed here. Of course, that signal meant that the chic should look for someone who would appreciate the gestures. So, it walked towards Mr. B and he poured some of the biscuit crumbs on the ground and it swooped on it.

     Like Oliver Twist, our pretty young chic waited, asking for more, and like a cheerful giver, Mr. B gave more biscuits. Two can play? Just before the answer came, he noticed that a tiny piece of rag had been tied around the right leg. Oh no! This rope means something that won’t make it easy tagging along with his impulse. That was not the only sign of ownership. A red paint was visible on the left leg too.

    Haba! All this for identification? Why not! You go all the way to give a tag to something you love, cherish and adore. Even if it strays, the message here is don’t touch, don’t trespass and don’t take away. Unfortunately, a number of chics are roaming aimlessly around without any form of identification. The crux of the matter here is that if you allow your chic to roam about and you cannot identify it, then it may be missing for a while or gone forever.

    This is exactly what happened to two lovebirds recently. Hardest hit by the emotional miscalculations is our dear Shewa and she is feeling bad because everyone thought she was too slow in the emotional process. Though she has come to terms with the break up, she is still finding it difficult to create space for a new romance.

    The damsel met Kunle on campus and they had a wonderful relationship. He assisted her with her studies and they complemented each other in different ways. They were very close, but somehow Kunle made no promises. It was a very cordial relationship and Shewa did not allow him more than a nuzzle in public. On his part, Kunle played the role of the good guy and never attempted to take advantage of his adorable chic.

    They graduated and both passed in flying colours. Barely two years after, Kunle got a scholarship and he had to travel out of the country for the proverbial greener pastures. When he broke the news to Shewa, she was devastated. Her friend, Morenike, was also afraid for her: “You know all these guys, the way they behave once you are out of sight. I hope you are not going to lose this guy after all you have done for him.”

    No way! Her dear Kunle won’t do that, she consoled herself. Time certainly will tell. On the day he was travelling out, Kunle stopped by at Shewa’s place to say goodbye and he asked her to see him off to the airport. That was a great reassurance indeed. Looks like she was the queen of the emotional manor after all. There was no other girl in sight or so it seemed. She began to imagine that their love letters and phone calls would crisscross the globe. She also imagined how she was going to stash these memorable love notes in her dresser drawer.The last set of imaginations that ran riot was when she would finally be reunited with him in Nigeria or having to travel over to join him where he was.

    Dreaming? Why not? it is better to dream sometimes. She got back home late that night. Her love was airborne and possibly thinking about her too. This distance relationship was just for a while, ‘everything, I’m going to be alright’, she consoled herself and smiled. Her smile lit up the room and her eyes creased with joy. Sleep finally came and she saw her sweetheart in dreamland. Good omen? Sadly, the days ran into weeks, months and years but there was no call and no letters.

    From friends, she got the ‘didn’t I warn you’ signal. The only information that sipped in came from Kunle’s mother. “Hello, my dear. How are you doing? Please take good care of yourself, mix and have new friends. I don’t want you to get too worried. We haven’t also heard from him directly, he just sent a friend to us recently. Please don’t wait for Kunle o. You know all these men can be very funny, you cannot vouch for them. When I was about your age, I escorted my boyfriend to the airport and I knew it was over. I married the next guy that came my way. That was how Kunle’s father came into the picture, so be sharp my dear.”

    The old woman was just playing smart, she knew her son had put someone in the family way.There would be no letters, no calls and their romance was history. After all, there were no strings attached from the outset. She simply did not read in between the lines.

  • Pharmacy students’ memorable match

    Pharmacy students’ memorable match

    It was all excitement and joy at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), last week, as the graduating class took on their junior colleagues in a friendly football match to mark their graduation from the school.

    The match, which was played at the Education Pitch on campus, started at 10am on Friday and was organised by the office of the Director of Sport of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS). After it was kicked-off, the zeal and enthusiasm of the players could be felt.

    Commenting, the faculty football team’s coach, Ifeanyi Ajudeonu, said the match was to foster friendship among the students. He said it would remain memorable for the graduating class, having spent six years at the faculty.

    He said: “The match is important to everyone, because it will foster friendship. After the match, the graduating students will not forget their junior colleagues.”

    However, emotions were high when Nabem Ambelega of the graduating class scored in the first half of the match. The goal gave his side opportunity to dominate the game in the first half.

    But Peter Osayuki came to the rescue of the junior team, scoring a goal to equalise in the second half. The match ended in draw.

    Jerry Egwuchie, a graduating student, described the match as exciting, saying he would never forget it.

     

  • A memorable day for part-time students

    A memorable day for part-time students

    The part-time members of the National Association of Computer Science Student (NACOSS), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter have marked their annual day of activities. It featured a seminar, a marathon and the election of a new executive. OMOLARA OGUNWALE (ND II Journalism, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos) reports.

    Unlike full-time undergraduates, part-time students rarely have time for social events on campus. But this was not the case last Friday when part-time students of Computer Science Department of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) held their day.

    It was an event that featured several activities. All part-time members of the National Association of Computer Science Student (NACOSS) moved round the Ikorodu campus of the institution to announce the event. They were clad in purple polo Tshirts with their names and logo of the department boldly inscribed on the materials.

    The event also featured the swearing in of a new executive elected a week earlier. Staff and students gathered at the department to witness the inauguration.

    The outgoing president, Robert Uwemedimo, in his opening remark, praised his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve them, saying the office gave him a chance to acquire attributes of leadership. He described his fellow executive members as devoted and honest students.

    Listing his achievements, Robert said his administration improved on students’ welfare and academic pursuit through organisation of seminars and tutorials for freshers, free training in Oracle database administration, web designing and networking, and increased access to the Computer Science laboratory. He said he achieved this because of students’ contribution.

    He advised his successor to improve on his administration’s achievements, saying the essence of leadership is to service the followers.

    During the lecture organised to mark the day, the guest speaker, Mr Abiola Oshodi, a partner at Hezedge Consulting, spoke about the opportunities in the world of Information Technology (IT).

    He told the audience to acquire trendy IT skills to remain relevant. He urged the students to explore Digital Marketing, which he described as a lucrative vocation. “Always go on the Internet to learn new skills and devote your time to read things that will help your career, then, put it into practice,” he said.

    The association also held a marathon on the school field.  However, a drama played out when a female student collapsed during the race. The standby medical team immediately took her off the track and gave her first aid.

    Bamidele Akinola, an HND II student, won the marathon, while Abiodun Bamidele, an ND 1 student, came second. They were rewarded with 4GB Flash Drive and notebooks.

    Students with the highest Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) in the last session were called out for honour. They were presented with award and prizes such as Nokia 105 phones and notebooks.

    The highpoint was the swearing in of the incoming executive members led by Joseph Omijie.

    Others are Ufoma Emiaka, Vice President; Peter Elegah, General Secretary; Ijeoma Isika, Social Director; Alli Yahaya, Public Relations Officer; Olusegun Ogunbowale, Welfare Director; Riliwan Lawal, Financial Secretary; Folahan Olaleye, Treasurer; Thomas Adejoh, Auditor and Sodiq Awodero, Sport Director.

    The outgoing Vice President, Goodnews Ofoegbu, gave the scorecard of the outgoing executive and urged the incoming members to sustain the growth of the association.

    Omijie, in his acceptance speech, said he was ready to take the association to a greater height and promote its vision. He hinted that he would embark on constitution amendment to give all members the opportunity to contribute to the development of the department and association.

    He said: “I feel excited after being declared the president. The outgoing members of the executive did a lot to improve the visibility of the association. I am lucky that I was involved, so I know what we need to achieve to further develop the association. I am ready to work in line with the vision and mission of the association. We will embark on constitution amendment that will make every member of NACOSS to work for change.”

     

  • Memorable matric for freshers

    Memorable matric for freshers

    The matriculation of the Federal University of Agriculture (UNIAGRIC), Makurdi, Benue State have come and gone, but the event would remain indelible in the minds of the freshers inducted into the citadel of learning.

    The fresh students rolled out the drums to mark their welcome into the university. Despite the cloudy weather that threatened to rain, the students trooped to the James Ayatse Convocation Square on the main campus to take oath of matriculation.

    The occasion lasted for two hours and was attended by parents, guardians and friends of the matriculating students. Clad in academic regalia, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, led the body of principal officers to the venue.

    The Registrar, Mrs C.C. Ohemu, presented the students before the management and administered the oath on them.

    Prof Kucha, in his address, urged the freshers not to misuse the opportunity offered them through their admission, stressing that the management would support their aspiration to get a degree. He warned them against joining unregistered associations, noting that such may cut short their stay on the campus.

    He promised to prioritise matters affecting their welfare. According to him, 5,868 students were admitted into various departments of the institution.

    A 100-Level Crops and Environmental Science student, Peter Ioma expressed gratitude to God for his admission, having failed two times to get admitted into the school.

    Helen Ada of the Department of Statistics and Computer Science said her success in the entrance examination excited her parents, who attended the ceremony.

    However, there was no merriment for the students on the campus as authorities placed ban on such because of commotion that attended such events in the past.

     

  • ‘My memorable moments’

    ‘My memorable moments’

    Kate Ijeoma Ibeanusi is a two-time graduate of Anthropology from the University of Ibadan and an alumnus of the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan African University. She is currently in charge of the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action Lagos Office and working in the area of Social Development and Rehabilitation.
    For about 20 years, her organisation has been instrumental in pushing for reviews in the prison acts, training and re-training of prison officers on human rights best practices in Nigeria and in five other countries of Africa. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about the achievements, challenges, safety, insecurity in the land as well as reforms in the justice sector.

    WHAT are the things that you are passionate about?

    For me, working with the less privileged, vulnerable and downtrodden persons in society is a passion. I am a women’s rights advocate with years of experience working with abused women and children. Working with the prisons naturally falls within this passion, especially considering that the prison and prison system is not a popular area of work. It especially gives me joy to see a prison inmate released, rehabilitated and reunited with their family. On another hand, it is challenging when we do not get funding support to follow through with all these laudable plans and interventions.

    What is the focus of your organisation?

    PRAWA is a non-governmental organisation set up in December 1994 to promote institutional reforms in the formal and informal sectors for access to justice, rehabilitation and social development of prisoners, ex-prisoners, torture victims and youths at risk. Our work cuts across actual reforms in practices and policies within the justice sector, to the promotion of safe societies where persons and communities are empowered to reduce crime, offending behaviour and torture as well as research, document and raise awareness about gaps in upholding rights and effects of practice and policy implementation in the justice and security sector. We are situated with headquarters in Enugu and offices in Lagos and Abuja.

    The organisation initiated the Prison Link Project where family members of inmates are contacted and informed of their relatives in prison. More recently, we have been involved in activities to reduce the number of awaiting trial persons across Nigerian prisons through the ‘Speeding up of Criminal Justice for Awaiting Trial Persons’ which is ongoing in Enugu and the FCT, Abuja. The Illegal Migration and Awareness Project, I-MAP, is a youth-based initiative to creatively engage young persons for the purpose of identifying their skills and talents and promoting the development of such for the prevention of crime and illegal migration. This project currently works with secondary schools in Lagos and Enugu to raise awareness on the ills of illegal migration. There is also the Crime and Human Rights Awareness (CHAT) project currently working with a secondary school in Lagos as a pilot. We have also, as part of our support to female inmates in Lagos, started a periodic provision of sanitary items for women prisoners through our ‘Live Clean in Prison campaign’, among many others.

    Tell us about some of the challenges you face on the job

    The major challenge is in the area of funding. Especially funding for youth empowerment initiatives, crime prevention and drug awareness programmes. Our rehabilitation work is the least funded and this is a major challenge. The inability of corporate Nigeria to see the need for investing in crime prevention and rehabilitation interventions leads to increase in insecurity as is being experienced today in the country. As a people, the responsibility of building our society through support for laudable and credible initiative lies with us.

    How do you cope with these challenges?

    We are not coping, we just keep doing what we know how to do best. We cannot do without funding, but in any case we keep putting out necessary information in the public and social space and work closely with the agencies to strengthen their capacity to do their work better. Provide pro bono services to inmates and so on. The donor sources are not sufficient to support all the numerous efforts. We are reaching out to corporate Nigeria for support and sponsorships of our programmes. Until as a nation we recognise that donor funding will not solve all our problems and begin to support our home grown initiatives, then we are bound to be continuously harassed daily with the disturbing news of rising insurgency and terrorist activities. As corporate bodies operating within the Nigerian society, your continued existence and progress are hinged on safety and security in the land hence the need to support youth based initiatives especially around crime prevention and empowerment.

    Let’s talk about some of the memorable moments at work

    The recent release of a female inmate by an Ijebu-Ode magistrate court was not only memorable but also commendable considering the various challenges encountered in the process. This is only one among the several other land mark cases being handled by the other offices of PRAWA. Recently in Enugu, PRAWA secured the release of a man who has been on awaiting trial for over 17 years. It was also a memorable experience for the organisation.

    Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    Hmmmn, my greatest influence has been family relationships. I have enjoyed unimaginable family support and this has greatly influenced my resolve in my area of work.

    How would you describe government’s support for the sector?

    Government efforts at supporting civil society groups are very minimal. But sincerely, they have shown commitments in some areas especially where it relates to reforms. I will speak about the sector where we operate. The Prison Service, the Judiciary, Police, Legal Aid Council have all been receptive to the reforms we are proposing. As for other civil society groups, everyone is doing their best. Nigeria is a vast entity; no single group can address the myriad of social problems facing the country. We just need to work together in a more coordinated manner to achieve our goals.

    If you had to compare your work with colleagues in other parts of the world, what would you say?

    I would say we are making an effort. On the grounds of comparison, we are all operating in different terrains with diverse challenges. Our society is still trying to understand the work of social advocates and civil society groups. For a million and one Nigerians, civil society groups are all charitable organisations who do not need to be supported and this hampers work, unlike in other climes, where ordinary citizens support causes and donate towards them. You find that impact and value of work is felt more over there. But I am optimistic, that with our continuous engagements with other societies, knowledge sharing, we can only get better in time.

    What changes would you like to see in the sector?

    First, I would want to see that the problem of awaiting trial persons is reduced to not more than 10% of the total prison population and those in the system are processed within the shortest time possible, not exceeding three months and moved to the next stage. This will be possible where the options of alternatives to imprisonment, community service is fully developed and in full force.

    I would also want to see a society that places a higher premium on the value of its citizens with a greater commitment towards protection of lives and properties.

    More importantly, I want to see a Nigeria where women will be allowed to function at their optimum, having access to quality education, health facilities and unfettered economic opportunities.

    Who do you consider as your mentor or role model?

    I greatly admire Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili. She is bold, forthright and unpretentious. She is an inspiration.

    If you had to advise women, what would you tell them?

    Women, women, women. My simple advise will be ‘Woman, know thy self’. This for me is borne out of the fact that you are who say you are. The desire of women to be defined by any other thing outside of themselves places an unseen shackle on all that the woman represents. As women, we must first recognise our potentials, if you wait for another human person to define you, then you are bound to operate and function below your best.

    What do you look forward to in the next five years?

    Continuous learning. I want to be better at the things I do, with every passing day, so I keep learning. As I earlier said, I am a gender, equal rights and opportunities advocate with interests in women’s rights and child protection. A counsellor, workshop facilitator, public speaker and promoter of equitable relationships and a balanced family life.

  • Memorable 40th birthday gifts

    Memorable 40th birthday gifts

    A forty year-old needs a memorable pleasant gift such that it will make memories last a lifetime.

    The anniversary is one of the most cherished, but some people still find it difficult to buy the suitable gift.

    To make the appropriate choice of gift, it is necessary to know the celebrator well enough to want to buy him/her a gift. How reserved is he/her, what is his/her favourite?, consider his/her profession, If he/she is an office person, a wonderful artwork or the person’s portrait will do, other items like cufflinks, packed shirt, perfumes, belts, wrist watches, ties, office jackets, handbags, gowns, ear rings and shoes will also be appreciated. The person’s favourite colour should be determined, especially when buying clothes; it will arouse the emotion of the individual.

    To get good bargains and be sure of what you are buying, visit stores like St. Anns collection, Ikeja, QM Nail Lounge & Gift Factory, Lekki, Heng Li International Trading Company Limited, Alaba-Suru, Lawanson Shopping Complex, Surulere .

  • Memorable farewell to a sweet mother

    Memorable farewell to a sweet mother

    Hers was a life of struggle. The late Mrs Hannah Folorunso Osuntokun became old while barely 30 as she shouldered the responsibility of mothering her siblings as the first child following their parents death. She died on December 24, last year.

    Her funeral last Friday brought the high and mighty to Okemesi-Ekiti, a town believed to be located at the bottom of a vast mountain. By 9a.m., guests in dainty cars had started arriving for the funeral. Mrs Osuntokun’s remains were wheeled into the church, accompanied by her children led by Chief Akin Osuntokun and his uncle, Prof Jide Osuntokun.

    The officiating Anglican Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, Most Revd Adebayo Akinde, gave a brief account of Mama’s life, noting that she got used to making sacrifice early in life.

    According to Revd Akinde, Mama was made a chief in the town because she gave freely.

    “If you are not good or have a legacy of selfless service towards the family, your community cannot honour you. Mama left a legacy of selflessness for generations. She was not a Delilah who betrayed her lover, Samson. These legacies are all there for us and anyone who desires to learn. You are either here or there. Let the wise Christian make a choice,” he said.

    He urged the congregation to learn from the humble life of the late Mrs Osuntokun who, according to him, “chose a life of devotion to God and total commitment to family despite trials and tribulations.”

    Prof. Osuntokun, while acknowledging the august gathering said:“I just cannot afford to continue sitting down without expressing gratitude for such a humbling presence as we have here today in the church.”

    The deceased’s son, Chief Osuntokun, a onetime Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the funeral enabled him to convert two prominent Muslims in the gathering to Christianity for two days.

    He was referring to former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chair Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Chairman, Bi-Courtney Consortium Dr. Wale Babalakin.

    Osuntokun said: “People talk of the embarrassment of riches but I talk of embarrassment of goodwill. Mama also told me ‘tell your uncles not to keep me too long in the refrigerator.’

    “But she was kept in the refrigerator for four months. The Anglican Church share a bit in that responsibility on the account of the Lenten period as they said they would not conduct an interment service during the period.”

    He asked the church to use the occasion to make demands, cautioning that his phone and that of his wife should not be demanded “as both got missing that morning.”

    Osuntokun said: “These (that is the missing phones) you cannot demand as much as I do know. Any other thing you can ask from me.”

    Responding to an earlier request that the family should endow a fund specifically for the growth of the church, Osuntokun donated N1 million. Others among the congregation supported the move with various sums.

    The congregation retired to the Anglican Church Primary School for the reception.

    Music was supplied by the inimitable King Sunny Ade-led band.

    In attendance were: Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko; former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; Mr Segun Oni who represented President Olusegun Obasanjo and Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on media, Dr. Reuben Abati.

    Others are former Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae; representatives of Ekiti State Governor; former governor of Ekiti Mr Ayo Fayose; representatives of the Ooni of Ife and Ewi Ado-Ekiti; Senator Babafemi Ojudu; former Health Secretary Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and Dr Jimi Oke.